(Posted by: Harrison Milfeld)

Steve Weibe, junior high science teacher and all-together underdog, has finally reclaimed the Donkey Kong world record from his King of Kong rival (and hot sauce entrepreneur) Billy Mitchell. According to Twin Galaxies' press release, Weibe achieved a score of 1,064,500 points to retake the world record for the first time since 2007 (no word on whether or not the infamous DK "kill screen" occurred at the time of recording). This marks the third time (that's right, THIRD) that the Donkey Kong record has changed hands. New York native Hank Chien was crowned King of Kong back in March 2010, but Billy Mitchell regained his title on July 31 with a score of 1,062,800 points. 

Weibe, who has attempted effortlessly at regaining the record at various live events, recorded the glorious arcade moment on August 30 for submission to Twin Galaxies. The game record organization verified the score on Monday, September 20. Despite how the well-received documentary The King of Kong portrayed Weibe's rival as an ominous villain, Mitchell, who has been a completive gamer since his teens, is known to not turn down a challenge. At this rate, the DK record could be broken a fifth time by the end of the year, with a chance of the challenger surpassing the game's kill screen. As impossible as that sounds, Mitchell and Weibe are certainly capable of proving doubters wrong.  

(Posted by: Harrison Milfeld)

Today, as a primer for the 2010 Tokyo Game Show, Tecmo Koei has announced Ninja Gaiden III, the next 3D chapter of reliable ninja-at-large Ryu Hayabusa. Amidst the controversy of Tecmo's celebrity designer Tomonobu Itagaki's departure and company president Yoshimi Yasuda resigning, it goes to show that the Ninja Gaiden series is marching forward. Team Ninja offered few specifics on the upcoming threequel, but they show a glimpse of art from the game. 

The art (pictured to the left) is said to show the increasingly bloody direction of the game, which Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi states could be "summed up in one image." Tecmo Koei did not provide a release date for Ninja Gaiden III, but you'll hear it here first when it is announced. Until then, sharpen your katanas and practice your ninja throwing-star skills; it's sure to be a tough game to boot. 

(Posted By: Alex Deckard)

Hey there everybody, it's The Gameshoe Podcast!  This week we're trying a newer, cleaner version of the podcast.  Enjoy it while it lasts, because it won't be here for long.  Also, a new co-host appears!  Subscribe to the podcast here.

(Posted By: Eric Rees)

Well there is some pretty unfortunate news coming out of the video game movie genre that we spoke of on last week’s podcast. It seems that the Bioshock movie, or what we knew it as, has been scrapped due to its cost.

Much to everyone’s, not just gamers, delight we heard that Gore Verbinski was going to be directing the highly anticipated film adaptation of one of video game’s biggest cult classics. You might recognize Verbinski’s name from being the director of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, yeah, that guy.

Apparently during a recent tour of the studios last week there were whole sets being built for the movie and that Verbinski “was going to be shooting on real sets and doing as much in-camera as possible.” Now that’s exciting. In a world full of CGI, this crazy art deco world was going to be actually built. It’s a shame that it got scrapped for it being too expensive because a game of this size should get a good film adaptation to do it justice. 

(Posted by: Harrison Milfeld)

Well, I mean, Happy Birthday to Super Mario Bros. the game to be exact. Mario's first appearance in the video game world came in the form of Donkey Kong; however, he was called Jumpman at the time, so we'll let this little inaccuracy slide for now. 

As for anyone who has picked up a video game controller knows that Super Mario Bros. changed the face of gaming in 1985. Its departure from the usual norms established by previous console makers such as Atari and Intellivision helped usher in a renaissance of sorts for future games. Ever since its release, the Mario franchise has gone on to sell more than 222 million copies. More kids during the late 1980s identified more with Mario than with Mickey Mouse, which isn't as shocking as it was years ago. 

So, with the 25th anniversary of one of the NES' greatest titles, we'd like to ask, "What was your favorite Mario title and why?" There's plenty of good ones to choose from, folks. 

As you think, take a look at what Complex.com did for the occasion. The author(s) of this entry surely have a lot of time on their hands to rate the 50 best Mario titles (yes, Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix included).

(Posted by: Harrison Milfeld)

While there has not been a official date given, Nintendo has said on occasion that their new handheld, the 3DS, will be released before April 2011. However, the handheld could be out sooner according to Takahiro Amano, who apparently is an employee at a peripheral company called KeysFactory. 

Amano tweeted: "On November 20, eleven 3DS products that we designed will go on sale all at once. People who are buying the 3DS, buy it at the same time! There will be more details on our home page." Amano also provided a link, which directs to the website KeysFactory

Nintendo has went on the record to say that they will not unveil the portable's release date public on September 29. Amano's Twitter page has since been deleted after word of the release date spread. The information from Amano's tweet has since been disregarded by Nintendo. We'll have an update on whether this release information is truth or merely falsehood. 

(Posted by: Harrison Milfeld)

According to Walmart's online store, they are taking pre-orders for a box set of the popular Playstation 2 action games ICO and Shadow of the Colossus for the Playstation 3 for just under $40. That's right, two games that are labeled as cult-classics for your PS3, redone in high-definition, all for for $40. Tell me that doesn't get anyone excited. But, there's mystery afoot. As of today, Walmart's website does not list the bundle's box art. In addition, it gives a sketchy release date of April 1, 2011 (a little too early for April Fools, Walmart).

Sony has yet to comment on such a bundle, but given how God of War 1 & 2 received an HD remake and Sly Cooper is awaiting a fall release, it's quite possible a Team ICO release is imminent. 

We'll have more when Sony officially announces the bundle. Until then, plop down a pre-order and cross your fingers. 

Posted by: Ryan Clark

The Lair of the Shadow Broker is the new DLC for Mass Effect 2. This is the first DLC for the game that both includes a completion of an ongoing story line and it will effect your story line in Mass Effect 3. In the DLC you work with former teammate (and for those of us lucky enough former lover) Liara T'soni as you track down the Shadow Broker, a mysterious individual who deals in information and is infamous in the galaxy. No spoilers in this post, as I have yet to download and play the DLC. More information will be forthcoming at that time. 

Posted by: Ryan Clark

Turbine has just released Lord of the Rings Online for free today. Turbines other game, Dungeons and Dragons online, is also free of charge. Most game components are for free in the LOTR game; however, the player versus player and several side missions are for paying customers only. The content that is free is still staggeringly large, and will provide more than enough entertainment for what you will pay for it. AKA nothing. And the only thing than and MMORPG is a free MMORPG.